|
|
Plants Of The Winter Solstice
By Dr. Leonard Perry
The winter solstice, which occurs on or around Dec. 21, is
the first day of winter. It's also the shortest day and the longest night of
the year. While most of us barely acknowledge its passing, to earlier
cultures this was a day of both trepidation and celebration.
The early Romans, Egyptians, Celtics and their priests
called Druids, and others observed that by December the fields were no longer
producing crops, leaves had fallen off the trees, and many plants had died.
Daylight hours were waning, and the sun was getting lower and lower in the
sky. They feared the sun would completely disappear, leaving them without
light and warmth.
They lit bonfires to light up the skies on this longest of nights both for
warmth and to coax the sun to return. They thought the fire would call out to
the sun, asking it to stop its descent into the earth and return to the sky.
The sun, considered a supreme being, was often considered ill, only to
recover with the longer days after the solstice. Some experts believe the
word “Yule”, another term for Christmas, came from the similar Gothic and
Saxon words meaning wheel. This would have referred to the cycles of
the sun.
Oak was usually used for these bonfires because, being a "strong,"
solid wood, it was perceived to represent strength and triumph. The Saxons
and Celtics often kept an oak log--usually the entire trunk of a
tree--burning for 12 hours on the eve of the solstice. If the fire did not go
out during this period, the household would be protected and see an abundance
of crops, good health, and other desirable things in the coming year.
A piece of the log was saved to start the fire the following year with the
belief that "as the old log is consumed, so is the old year" with
all its troubles. Many European cultures, especially the British, adopted
this tradition, calling it the Yule log.
Other species of trees also played a significant role in solstice
celebrations. The Romans, Celtics, Teutons, and Christians, for example, all
considered the evergreen to be an important symbol of the continuity of life,
protection, and future prosperity as it was one of the only trees to stay
green during the bleak, "lifeless" winter months. Fir, cedar, and
pine boughs and wreaths were used to decorate homes.
Small gifts for the gods representing the sun, earth, and harvest also were
hung from the branches of pine trees in groves. Some people believe this
custom evolved into the Christian tradition of decorating an evergreen tree
in December.
Other sacred trees of the solstice were the yew (symbolizing death and the
last day of the solar year), silver fir (winter solstice day and rebirth),
and birch (new beginnings). The Celtics believed plants brought indoors
during the solstice would assure woodland spirits safe refuge there during
the winter months. They used yellow cedar (arborvitae) to symbolize
cleansing and purity, ash to symbolize the sun (considered a supreme being)
and protection, and the pine for peace, healing, and joy.
Several plants, including holly, ivy, and mistletoe, were believed to bring
protection and luck, and thus, were hung over doors to keep out misfortune.
Ivy, which also stood for fidelity, healing, and marriage, was worn as a
crown or fashioned into wreaths and garlands for decorations during the
winter months.
Wheat, with its links to agriculture in many cultures, also has significance
to the solstice. In addition to being baked into bread, cookies, and cakes
for solstice feasts, it was woven into wreaths and straw figures to encourage
sustenance, fertility, and an abundant harvest.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Copyright
by Dr. Leonard Perry, Extension
Professor, University of Vermont
Dr. Perry may be contacted
at: Perry's
Perennial Pages
|
|